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GAME FOR PASTIME.

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T() ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, CHARLES RICHARDSON, of Richmond, in the county of Henrico, in the State of Virginie., have invented a new game, called Martelle, intended for a pastime in or out of doors; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in a peculiar formation and arrangement of certain materials designed' for instruction, exercise, and amusement.

To enable those skilled in the art to make anu use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction.

and operation.

Description of the Parlor or House Game.

The board or -bed 'on whichthe 'indoor game is played may beimade` of wood,'imetal, or marble, varying in its dimensions, according to the public demand, from two feet square to fifteen feet square, and of' snii'icient thickness and, construction to prevent it from warping. Its face should be covered with cloth, (of green or other color,) and it should have projecting sides to prevent the balls used'in the game from rolling oit` it. `In the centre ofthe board a circular piece of wood (terzned the centre-piece) must be fixed, the dimensions depending upon the size of the board; but, as a rule, its diameter should be about one forty-fifth ,of the circumference of the circle, and its thickness the same as the rellectors, hereinafter described. A circle, in diameter one-sixth less than the diameter of the board or bed, must be dened in 'gilt or paint around the centrepiece. Six elliptical-shaped reflectors are fixed on the circle, equidistant from each other and from the centre-piece." The dimensions of the reiiectors necessarily vary according to the size of the circle, but as a rule may be made in length about ive-eighteenths of the circumference of the circle, in width, at the centre of their surface, about one-ninetieth (15) of the circumference of the circle, and in thickness about two-fifths of their width. The curve of the face of the reectors is an inverted section of the circle Opposite to the centre of each reflector (towards the centre-piece)` a cup (termed a well) is sunk in the board, (the distance from the face ofv the reflector to the 'centre of the cup or well two diameters of the ball used in the game.) v The capacity of each cup or well" is equal to one-half of one ofv the balls used in the game. Six pins are used in the game, one to be placed near each well, as indicated by the small black spots marked P in the drawings. Four balls, two mallets, and four counters for keeping the game complete the materials used in the game. The size of the balls, mallets, and pins should accord with the proportions of the board and its fixtures. As a rule, the balls should be in diameter, one-ninetieth (10) of the circumference of the circle The mallets head should not exceed in length two diameters of the ball, and the stati` of the mallet should be in length about'one-tenth of the circumference of the circleff The pins should be in `height about two forty`ths (7,25) of thecircumference of ,circlef and in thickness at their base about three-sixteenths of their height.

The appointments for the eld game" are fashioned like those above described for the parlor game, but should be of much larger proportions, depending upon the publie demand. The iield game may be played on any comparatively level plot of ground.

` Method of Playing the Game.

Four persons may play. Each player s hall select a hall, and is entitled to use either one of the mallets, and on commencing the game shall place his ball on any point on the circle that he may select, and, striking it with his mallet, endeavor to cause it t0 strike the centre-piece; should he succeed in which, he is then' entitled to continue play, and may play his ball directly for either of the pins, (which are placed upright on the small black spots near the wells, as seen in the plate,) and should his ball knock down a pin he makes a, point, and is entitled to count live, which number he should record to his credit on his coi-inter." Ile'is then entitled to continue play so long ashe makes a point. Whenever a ball falls into one of the cu'ps or wellsv the player of thatball loses live, and records his loss against himself on his counter. When a players ballV fails to knock down a pinor runs into a Welh or runs od' the board, the run is terminated, and the player ceases to play until his next turn. Pins that are' knocked down during a run must be placed in their proper (Original) position by the'player who knocks them down. After his run is terminated the player who iirst makes one hundred Wins the game.

What I claim as my'invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

'lhe arrangement of certain' devices, as hereinbef'ore described and shown by the accompanying drawings. for forming an instructive and amusing game or pastime for the house o'r field.

CHARLES 'RICHARDSON'.

Witnesses:

H. B. PIERCE, J. W. BALENTINE. 

